ArcaMax

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have erectile dysfunction (ED). I am 71, and this has been an issue for over a year. But it seems to be getting worse. I have used sildenafil and Cialis with no effect. I also received testosterone injections for over a year. I have used Trimix and Quadmix, which worked initially to a certain extent, but now it doesn't work ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My 66-year-old husband recently received a diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. He is 5 feet, 7 inches tall, and weighs 270 pounds. He is treating his fluid retention with 100 mg of furosemide daily. He also has mild, untreated sleep apnea.

He would like to try one of the GLP-1 drugs to lose some weight, ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 71, and I recently saw my urologist for urinating a lot and not getting enough sleep. He performed a flow test and a scope, then told me that I have an enlarged prostate. My urologist is recommending a procedure but doesn't support the idea of using a balloon treatment.

Next week, I am scheduled to have my prostate ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: Several months ago, I developed a case of a bigeminy heartbeat. My cardiologist prescribed metoprolol. At about the same time, I had reduced my intake of magnesium from about 50% of the daily value (DV) to 35%. (This may have preceded the bigeminy onset.)

Quite by accident, I read an article recommending magnesium for a heart ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 66-year-old woman in fairly good health, but I have visited enough doctors recently to make the following observation:

Almost without fail, a person will enter the examination room, make no introduction, and launch into a series of questions or perform whatever procedure is necessary. (In general, I do not see any ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I think it would be very enlightening if you would write a follow-up piece on the third leading cause of death in the United States. I am certain you are aware that I am referring to medical errors. I am of the opinion that physicians are overprescribing medication on a regular basis.

I feel like doctors are barraged by ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 71-year-old male who is a nonsmoker and a social drinker. Other than a statin, I am not taking any medications. I have been getting colonoscopies every five years as each time several benign polyps have been found. When I was 67, a couple of precancerous polyps were found along with some benign ones. Because of this, my ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: As I amble past middle age and try to take note of my functioning as a male, I wonder if I could benefit from taking one of these testosterone supplements that I see advertised on TV. But I don't know how much they would improve my health or sexual function. Does the recommended dosage on the bottle apply to everybody? Or ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I ate some tilapia last night, and within an hour, I had nausea and a headache, vomiting a few hours later, and now diarrhea. What do you think is going on? -- V.P.

ANSWER: I would be interested if you felt any sensation of warmth on your face or neck or any flushing, as your symptoms are highly suggestive of a foodborne ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: My son has been diagnosed with a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. I had never heard of this. He has been told that his brain pressure is lower than normal. This caused him to have severe headaches, and he says that his ears feel like they are going to explode. He can only be up about 2-4 hours, then he has to lay down again. ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have found what seems like an almost-magical way to stop the progression of the common cold and a cure for it. I am a reasonably healthy 84-year-old male with a medically sound lifestyle. Historically, I have gotten about two common colds per year that always starts with nasal congestion. It rapidly progresses to a runny nose...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 78-year-old male in relatively good health. I only take losartan for my blood pressure. Over the past year, my urine has gotten quite foamy. The internet suggests that this means a high amount of protein from protein drinks, high physical activity, or a kidney problem.

I saw my primary care physician, and they analyzed ...Read more

DEAR DR. ROACH: About 12 years ago, I had a scan done to look for the cause of a problem that I was having for many months: pain in my abdomen and vomiting. (It turned out to be Barrett's esophagus, which was found with a scope.) Fortunately for me, I read the report from the scan. The report said there was a spot on my kidney that ought to be...Read more